True Calling Counseling & Consulting Services, LLC

03/31/2026

Bilateral Stimulation: A Simple Tool to Calm Your Nervous System

Have you ever felt overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in your thoughts—and nothing seemed to help?

Your nervous system might be dysregulated… and it’s not a flaw—it’s a response.

One powerful, simple tool you can add to your toolbox is bilateral stimulation.

Bilateral stimulation involves alternating left-right input to the body or brain.

This can be done through:�
• Tapping your hands on your thighs (left, right, left, right)
�• Walking at a steady pace�
• Listening to alternating sounds in each ear
�• Using tools like tappers or even gentle rocking

So why does this help?

Because bilateral stimulation:�
✨ Helps your brain process overwhelming experiences�
✨ Brings your body out of “fight, flight, or freeze”�
✨ Supports emotional regulation�
✨ Creates a sense of grounding and safety

It’s one of the reasons approaches like EMDR therapy are so effective.

But here’s the important part…

You don’t have to be in therapy to benefit from it.

The next time you feel overwhelmed, try this:�
👉 Gently tap your hands left to right�
👉 Take slow, steady breaths�
👉 Stay present with the rhythm

You may notice your body begin to settle.

Small tools. Big impact.

Your healing doesn’t always have to be complicated.



Disclaimer: This post does not constitute a therapeutic relationship or clinical advice. Techniques shared may not be appropriate for everyone. Please seek individualized guidance from a licensed mental health professional.

https://youtu.be/HA8ZLqccZ1U?si=341LsaQFSCHR42j_

See comments for 2 items that I personally use & have found to be very helpful.

What Role Does Bilateral Stimulation Play in EMDR Therapy? In this informative video, we will discuss the role of bilateral stimulation in EMDR therapy, a me...

03/08/2026

Both-and thinking” (sometimes called dialectical thinking) is the ability to hold two truths at the same time, even when they feel contradictory. Instead of forcing an either/or choice, the mind learns to tolerate complexity.

Example:
• “I am struggling and I am still moving forward.”
• “I love my family and I need boundaries.”
• “I feel hurt and I can still grow from this experience.”

This way of thinking has several powerful benefits for mental health.

⸻

1. Reduces Black-and-White Thinking

Many mental health struggles are intensified by all-or-nothing thinking:
• “If I failed, I’m a failure.”
• “If someone hurt me, they must not care about me.”
• “If I’m not where I should be in life, I’ve messed everything up.”

Both-and thinking interrupts that pattern:

“I made a mistake and I am still a capable person.”

This creates mental balance and reduces emotional extremes.

⸻

2. Improves Emotional Regulation

When people feel intense emotions, the brain often tries to simplify reality to reduce discomfort.

Both-and thinking allows someone to acknowledge painful emotions without being overwhelmed by them.

Example:
• “I feel very angry about what happened and I want to respond thoughtfully.”

This helps people pause instead of reacting impulsively, which supports healthier coping.

⸻

3. Strengthens Self-Compassion

Many people are extremely harsh toward themselves.

Both-and thinking introduces grace without avoiding responsibility.

Example:
• “I wish I had handled that situation differently and I am learning from it.”

This supports growth instead of shame, which is critical for long-term mental health.

⸻

4. Increases Psychological Flexibility

Psychological flexibility—the ability to adapt to difficult situations—is strongly linked to resilience.

Both-and thinking helps people understand that:
• Life can contain joy and pain
• Love and disappointment
• strength and vulnerability

Example:

“This season of life is difficult and there are still things that give my life meaning.”

This mindset prevents people from feeling trapped in one emotional state.

⸻

5. Supports Healing from Trauma

For people who have experienced trauma, both-and thinking can be especially healing.

Trauma often creates rigid beliefs like:
• “I am damaged.”
• “People cannot be trusted.”
• “My past defines me.”

Both-and thinking allows a more balanced truth:
• “What happened to me was deeply painful and it does not define my worth.”

This helps survivors separate identity from experience.

⸻

6. Improves Relationships

Both-and thinking allows people to hold multiple perspectives, which reduces conflict.

Example:
• “I understand why you felt hurt and I want to explain my intention.”

Instead of escalating conflict, it creates space for understanding.

⸻

A Simple Mental Health Shift

Instead of asking:

“Which one is true?”

Both-and thinking asks:

“What two truths might exist at the same time?”

Example:
• “I feel overwhelmed and I am taking steps to care for myself.”

⸻

The Bottom Line

Both-and thinking improves mental health because it:
• Reduces rigid thinking
• Regulates emotions
• Encourages self-compassion
• Increases resilience
• Supports trauma recovery
• Improves relationships

It teaches the mind that life is complex—and we can hold complexity without breaking.

02/05/2026

✔️

02/03/2026

Information can bring about Transformation

02/03/2026

✨ 2026 Mission ✨ 100,000 Books ✨ 100,000 Lives Transformed

I’m working to get this book into the hands of 100,000 people.

It’s for churches, parents, teens, and anyone carrying silent emotional pain.

This book helps name what’s been unseen - and starts healing conversations.

If this resonates, please share. 💛

Someone needs this.

02/03/2026

✨ 2026 Mission ✨ 100,000 Books ✨ 100,000 Lives Transformed

I’m working to get this book into the hands of 100,000 people.

It’s for churches, parents, teens, and anyone carrying silent emotional pain.

This book helps name what’s been unseen - and starts healing conversations.

If this resonates, please share. 💛

Someone needs this.

12/07/2025

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4419484703/god-help-me-heal-understanding-gods

This Worksheets item is sold by ReJoicewithJoycelyn. Ships from United States. Listed on Dec 7, 2025

12/06/2025

✨ FREE Until the 12/15! ✨

I’m making this resource available at no cost because I truly want people to have access to it—especially those who are considering therapy and want to explore this information in the comfort and privacy of their own space.

If you’ve been thinking about starting counseling, or if you just want a deeper understanding of your emotional wellness, this guide is a gentle, supportive place to begin.

Download your free copy and take the first step toward clarity, healing, and empowerment—on your own terms.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rVNfAW4K12y83OJ01miKj1X1HZ4nIe8t/view?usp=sharing

After 12/15/25 - $4.99 for digital download...on ETSY...

11/19/2025

Trigger warning: Sensitive content ahead.

One of my brave clients is publicly sharing a chapter of her story about surviving childhood sexual assault. She hopes it brings encouragement and healing to others.

You’re welcome to share thoughts or supportive comments.

I have spent a large part of my life being ruled by anger, shame and fear. In many ways I was able to leverage my anger to propel me forward. But many ways my anger and definitely fear and shame held me back from being the best version of myself. That person I was destined to be when God released...

11/13/2025

50% Off...

Join me on 11/15/2025 from 4pm - 6pm

Let's chat about the real deal of parenting tweens, teens, and young adults - no sugarcoating, just honest advice and support!

10/10/2025

Now Available...

Bumper Sticker – $5 (Includes Shipping & Handling in the U.S.)

Details:
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09/26/2025

🌿 Free Your Mind 🌿
The seasons are shifting — the air is crisper, the days shorter, and there’s a quiet magic in the change. As the weather turns, it invites us to slow down, to pause, to look inward.

This feels like the perfect moment for self-reflection, to clear out mental clutter, and to reconnect with your inner world.

Therapeutic Journaling Prompts — it’s filled with guided questions designed to open up deeper thinking, feelings, and awareness - over 300 prompts!!!

Here’s the link if you want to check it out: Paperback-$9.99 https://amzn.to/4nqLQXk & Kindle-$2.99 https://amzn.to/46zflyU)

✨ 10 Subjects - Journaling Prompts
1. Not Letting Your Past Define You (41)
2. Enmeshment (41)
3. Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin (30)
4. Challenging Judgmental Tendencies (38)
5. Unsafe People (21)
6. Finding your Voice & Using It with Confidence (35)
7. Expressing Your Needs More Effectively (36)
8. Talking More Positively to Yourself (28)
9. Feeling Like Nothing is Going Right (28)
10. Staying in the Present Moment (40)

As you feel the wind change direction and the world around you transform, I encourage you: give yourself the grace and space to explore.

Let your thoughts wander, let your feelings surface, and let your truth breathe.

If you give this a try, I’d love to hear which prompt hit you hardest — or even how it felt just to sit and write.

Paired with a cute journal…

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